‘Onion’ debacle is just one example of bad-taste tweets

Kim HjelmgaardUSA Today

Published: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 11:21 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 11:21 a.m.

The temptation of Twitter can at times bring out the worst in people, and Sunday night was no exception, when satirical publication The Onion posted a profane tweet aimed at 9-year-old Oscar hopeful Quevenzhané Wallis.

Here’s a roundup of some other tweets that have riled and raised eyebrows — remember, there is no accounting for taste:

“You already own you. Now go — Earn the power. Earn the Truth. Earn the most important component in this entire dimension, your self c” — @charliesheen weighs in from the annals of the nonsensical.

“All impacted by # Sandy, stay safe! We’ll be doing lots of Gap.com shopping today. How about you? — @Gap puts on the hard sell as Hurricane Sandy prepared to wreak devastation on the East Coast late last year.

“WHY is everyone in SUCH a panic about hurricane (I’m calling it Sally)..? Stop projecting negativity! Think positive and pray for peace.” @lindsaylohan,before the storm. Superstorm Sandy eventually cost the state of New York billions to recover.

“How did fat lady who fell thru street get to 400 lbs? Welfare, stamps etc? Then leave us all with 20 yrs immense health bills. — @rupertmurdoch, CEO of News Corp., shows his social conscience in response to an article about a woman who fell through a sidewalk in New York City. He later apologized, kind of.

“Millions are in uproar in # Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online at http://bit.ly/KCairo-KC” — @KennethCole gets political about events in Egypt. The firm later said it was sorry and had not intended to make light of events.

(Cole also has the non-Twitter distinction of saying to the New York Daily News after 9/11: “Important moments like this are a time to reflect ... To remind us, sometimes, that it’s not only important what you wear, but it’s also important to be aware.”)

Facebook, too, has hosted plenty of gaffes, including this:

“May is Mental Health Month ... or so the SHADOWY CONSPIRATORS WHO CONTROL THE WORLD would have you believe. — from 7-Eleven’s in 2011.

What are some of your favorite instances of complete and utter Twitter fail? Tell us at @usatoday or @khjelmgaard

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